UAF co-hosts Arctic defense forum
Andrea Miller
907-474-5942
May 20, 2022
Gen. Glen D. VanHerck speaks to the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable delegations on May 3, 2022, on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.
Top military and University of Alaska officials gathered for the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable in Fairbanks on May 3-5, 2022.
Established in 2010 and co-chaired by U.S. European Command and the Norwegian Defence Staff, the 2022 ASFR was the first held in the United States.
U.S. Northern Command, one of six Department of Defense geographic combatant commands, hosted this year’s event. The University of Alaska Fairbanks and Eielson Air Force Base were selected as the hosting locations. The UAF Center for Arctic Security and Resilience managed local preparations for the event through U.S. Northern Command.
ASFR is the world’s only military defense forum that brings together delegations from the Arctic nations — plus select allies that operate in the Arctic — to discuss multinational, military-to-military operationally relevant topics. Since 2014, Russia has not participated in the ASFR due to sanctions against the country.
Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, highlighted the importance of allied collaboration.
Rear Adm. Dan “Undra” Cheever, the U.S. Northern Command’s director of strategies, policies and plans, at left, talks with University of Alaska President Pitney, at right, and Daniel Neuffer, the U.S. European Command’s Arctic strategist.
“Our greatest asymmetric strategic advantage is a global network of allies and partners, and like-minded nations who remain committed to Arctic security and stability,” VanHerck said during a presentation to the roundtable.
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney attended VanHerck’s presentation. UAF Chancellor Dan White met with the delegations during a reception held at the University of Alaska Museum of the North.
“UAF has a long history of research related to operations and situational awareness in the Arctic,” White said. “We were delighted to host this meeting and hope that the connections made can enable UAF to grow in our partnership with members of the AFSR.”
Rear Adm. Dan “Undra” Cheever, at right, presents a certificate of appreciation to UAF Chancellor Dan White.
UAF Vice Chancellor for Research Nettie La Belle-Hamer and Cathy Cahill, director of UAF’s Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, provided insights about the wide range of operationally relevant Arctic research being conducted at UAF. The delegations also visited the Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility, which is managed by the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The tunnel was of particular interest to the European delegates, who are not familiar with many of the Arctic challenges experienced by their North American counterparts.
More information can be found in the official event press release. France will host the next virtual ASFR in November, and the main forum will be hosted next by Finland in early 2023.